Lean Canvas plus Sustainability

I have been doing a lot of reading on writing business cases and all that jazz. What I have found is that they are very word intensive and could be a potential put off if not careful. In my reading travels I stumbled across this idea of the Lean Canvas. Basically narrows down all your business thoughts into a concise easy to digest format. It follows along the idea of visual management and lean.

Why Lean Canvas? 

Its cool because you can write all your thoughts onto post-it notes, stick them in the relevant spaces and keep refining your business case. Finally a fluid document! (can that all be in the same statement!?).

I came across another version of the Lean Canvas that adds a sustainability element to it. After reading "Heart To Start" by Derek Handley, a large part of his journey was rethinking purpose and his idea of a successful business. Hence his current involvement with Virgins boss Richard Branson's The B Team. The below lean canvas I feel encompasses some of this people, planet and profit thinking.


Social Lean Canvas

Now the challenge is to develop a business case to fit in the parameters of a sustainable business. No easy feat - what businesses (big and small) are truly sustainable in their operations apart from NGOs?

As a Gen Y - I am finding I like to know what businesses contribute to the bigger picture. Not just to exist to take profit but to focus on things like Zero Harm, charity days, company creches or car pools, environmental awareness, giving back, building for the future, social teams.. bla bla bla. Ya know what I mean? Its important!

Over and Out!
Dee